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C Rank

Ethereal: Ah!

Adder: What?

Ethereal: Wh-what are you doing out so late? It's almost midnight!

Adder: Doing my job, of course. The Queen never told me to stop guarding you at night.

Ethereal: So you just follow me around the castle gardens... in the dark? What will people think if they see us out here together?!

Adder: Who's going to see us? Besides, you're being pretty careless, Princess. Wandering around by yourself at night... If assassins really are plotting a move against you, then you'd be an easy target right now, had I not been nearby.

Ethereal: ...I suppose you're right.

Adder: So you can understand why I feel the need to follow you everywhere.

Ethereal: But I still find it hard to believe that assassins are going to come after me. Why would that ever happen?

Adder: Do I really need to tell you why, Princess?

Ethereal: Is it just because of who I am? The heir to the Speculum throne, my mother's successor... Is my life in danger just because of that?

Adder: Why else? If you were an ordinary citizen, then wandering the streets at night would be no more dangerous for you than for anyone else. Which is to say, very. But at least you wouldn't have to worry about the political side of things if you found a knife at your throat.

Ethereal: God, can you stop acting so... nonchalant about it? Besides, who's to say that wandering the streets at night isn't also dangerous for you?

Adder: I never said it wasn't. But I've been roaming the city far longer than you have, Princess – I know the way it works.

Ethereal: ...Adder, you never told me anything about where you came from. My mother – the Queen – only told me that you came from the Low City and you used to be a renowned thief. But it feels like there must be more to it than that. Why would a mere thief be hired to guard the Queen's own daughter?

Adder: You're right. There is more. But that's a bedtime story for another night. Come on, let's go back inside – it's late, and people are bound to notice your absence if you stay out much longer.

---

B Rank

Adder: ...It's all right, they're gone.

Ethereal: Don't move. You're bleeding--

Adder: It's fine, Princess. I've had far worse.

Ethereal: That doesn't mean you should ignore it! Stay still and I'll heal you. It will only take a few seconds.

Adder: ...Hm. I never knew the royal heir had healing magic. That's quite a rare thing nowadays.

Ethereal: Well, my mother warned me against telling anyone unless I needed to. She said that some people might try to use me for my power. There, is that better?

Adder: Your mother's right. Plenty of people would do anything for that kind of magic. And, thanks.

Ethereal: You're welcome... and would you mind explaining why you felt the need to jump in front of me? I was already preparing to block his attack; it most likely wouldn't have hit me.

Adder: I couldn't take any chances. You do realise I'd lose my job if you got hurt under my watch, right?

Ethereal: So? Nothing would have stopped you from simply getting another job if that had happened, and you wouldn't have needed to endanger your life. Isn't that more important than protecting me?

Adder: Maybe, maybe not. But I plan on keeping this job for a long time, Princess – not just because it pays well, but because I have my own reasons for sticking around.

Ethereal: And those reasons are?

Adder: Personal.

Ethereal: Hmph. So after all this time we've known each other, you still don't want to tell me anything? You don't trust me? If we were normal citizens, then no doubt we would be considered great friends by now.

Adder: And that's exactly the point, Princess. We've not normal citizens. We're about as far away from each other in social rank as we could possibly be. You're the crown princess, future successor to the country's Queen, and I'm a lowly criminal from the slums who just happened to get lucky.

Ethereal: Tell me more about your life. Before you came here, I mean.

Adder: You're asking that again?

Ethereal: Is there a reason why I shouldn't know? Perhaps I deserve to know more than anyone, seeing as I'm spending most of my time in your company, whether by choice or not.

Adder: Hmm. Maybe you do. Alright, I'll give you the watered-down version.

Ethereal: I'm listening.

Adder: I grew up in a poor family. And by poor, I mean we couldn't buy food, medicine, or other basic necessities. We were living in a tiny house that was on the brink of falling apart. All four of us; me, my mum, my dad, and my older sister Layla. Despite our crappy living conditions, we managed to get by – until the fateful day when we discovered that Layla had caught a disease that would kill her within a few months. And the only cure was a medicine that was, unfortunately, out of our price range.

Ethereal: ...

Adder: We did the best we could, but despite my dad working in the Speculum military, there was no way we could afford it. And none of the rest of us could get jobs, either. I was around 15 at the time, and started stealing from other poor families up and down the street in hopes of getting the money to pay for Layla's medicine. But it was never going to be enough. Out of desperation I turned to the deeper, darker side of the criminal world, to the only profession that could get me enough money... assassination.

Ethereal: You...

Adder: Say what you like. I certainly never did it because I wanted to, but I wasn't willing to let Layla die for any reason. I'd had enough of poverty stripping the life from my family, and was determined to do something about it.

Ethereal: So... did it work?

Adder: The medicine? Yep. She made a full recovery, though it took about six months of twice-daily doses, so I had to keep up my criminal work until she was stable enough to not need the stuff anymore. Afterwards, I decided to keep stealing – and doing occasional assassinations when necessary, to help support my parents.

Ethereal: ...I don't know what to say.

Adder: I didn't expect you to, Princess.

---

A Rank

Ethereal: Adder!

Adder: Eh?

Ethereal: About our conversation yesterday...

Adder: Oh, have you finally thought of something to say about it, Princess?

Ethereal: N-no. Not exactly... I want an answer to my original question. Why do you want to keep this job so badly? Why do you want to keep being my bodyguard? It can't be an easy job. Just yesterday, you were injured trying to protect me! Why on earth would you want to do that?

Adder: I told you – I have my reasons. And I don't need to explain them all to you.

Ethereal: As your superior – and future Queen – I could very well order you to answer my questions. You know that, don't you?

Adder: Resorting to threats now, Princess? It won't do you any good. I've been threatened by people who really meant it. Besides, what are you going to do if I refuse your order? Execute me?

Ethereal: ...No, of course not. You've risked your life to save me from assassins; I value you far more than that.

Adder: Good.

Ethereal: But I still want my question answered.

Adder: You can try all you like, but nothing's going to change.

Ethereal: What... what if I'm completely honest with you? About something quite personal?

Adder: Hmm?

Ethereal: *deep breath* Adder, you say that you have your reasons for wanting to stay on as my bodyguard. But you're not the only one. If I didn't want you protecting me, then I could have simply asked my mother to find me someone else – I'm sure she could.

Adder: So... what you're saying is that you've actually grown to enjoy having me around? That's a surprise, Princess. I never thought you cared either way.

Ethereal: Of course I care! Not just because you've done so much to protect me, but because I... I really have grown to like your company.

Adder: Really?

Ethereal: Yes. It's... comforting... to have someone who I can talk to about anything, and who will always be candid with me, no matter the consequences. You speak to me as if I'm any normal citizen, and not the future Queen of Speculum.

Adder: I consider honesty one of my finest character traits, Princess. Which might be odd for a former criminal, now I think about it...

Ethereal: It's not just that, either. I enjoy talking with you. I feel as if I can talk to you about anything. Even my mother has noticed how close we are and warns me against becoming any closer to you, because she says it's improper for a princess to be friends with a commoner.

Adder: And do you agree with her?

Ethereal: No! I never could! I don't care what's considered 'proper' and what isn't – and when I become Queen, I'll have the power to change it. I can change the way commoners are treated in my country.

Adder: Changing peoples' minds isn't as easy as you might think. Ultimately, everyone believes what they want to believe, and they don't let anyone tell them otherwise.

Ethereal: I know. But I have to try.

Adder: Well, just know that I'll support you in that – for as long as you want me around, that is.

Ethereal: I'll always want you around, Adder.